Phillies quiet as Wetzler controversy surrounds them

Oregon State Ben Wetzler pitches against Kansas State during the first inning of an NCAA college super regional tournament baseball game in Corvallis, Ore., Monday June 10, 2013. (AP Photo/Greg Wahl-Stephens)

CLEARWATER, Fla. — While the Phillies enjoyed a quiet day of workouts Saturday as the players make their final preparations for the start of the Grapefruit League schedule Wednesday, there was plenty of activity when it came to the bizarre and unflattering case of Ben Wetzler v. the NCAA and the Phillies.

Wetzler, the left-handed ace of the Oregon State pitching staff, had been in limbo after the Phillies reported him to the NCAA for a potential violation. The Phils had drafted Wetzler in the fifth round of last year’s draft, only to see him turn down an offer close to $400,000 and return for his senior season. Last November, someone from the organization reported Wetzler as well as unsigned sixth-round pick Jason Monda of Washington State as having violated an NCAA rule that almost every draft pick bends by employing an advisor to assist in negotiations.

Monda was cleared. Friday night, the NCAA informed Oregon State Wetzler could return to the team after the Beavers’ 11th game.

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The Phillies, who were tight-lipped about how and why they would get involved in something that casts them in an extremely unflattering light, did offer a little insight into the matter Saturday — not that it improved their Q-rating.

General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. confirmed that he “was aware” of the snitching on the unsigned players when it occurred — although he wouldn’t admit or deny condoning it.

“I was aware, that’s all I can say,” Amaro said. “Again, it’s not really appropriate to talk about these things.”

That was a sentiment echoed by Amaro during the brief media give-and-take at the Carpenter Complex. The problem is that many agents, players, college coaches and even scouts seem to think the Phillies weren’t appropriate when they made the call to the NCAA.

Yet when asked if he was concerned about how this might affect the Phillies’ ability to glean accurate and detailed information about a player’s willingness to go pro, or even gain access to said players, Amaro said, “No, I’m not.”

As for the widely accepted belief that this will damage the Phillies’ reputation in the amateur scouting world, Amaro was in the wild minority.

“I think people know we do things professionally and the way we go about our business,” he said. “So I think our reputation is very good.”

Asked if this represented a breach of professionalism, the weather on Planet Amaro was very different than the rest of the world.

“As the statement (put out by the organization) says,” Amaro said, “to me it really is not appropriate to talk about either theruling or the decision. And that’s something that is policy for us, anyway. We don’t talk about negotiations and things like that, and I don’t think it’s appropriate in this case either.”

Amaro did say that Wetzler and Monda were not represented by the same entity when the Phillies talked contract, so the only connection the pair have is that they turned down the Phillies after giving indications they would leave school after their junior seasons.

If scouting director Marti Wolever is getting heat from Amaro for the move, he certainly wasn’t claiming so Saturday.

“Oh yeah. He’s our scouting director and our assistant GM,” Amaro said when asked if Wolever was in trouble.

A called was placed to Monda’s parents by the Daily Times. His mother deferred any questions to her husband, Greg, a former professional who ended his playing career in the Phillies’ organization at Double-A Reading in 1988. Greg Monda didn’t return the call.

Wetzler did send several tweets on Twitter (@BenWetzler28) after the NCAA made its ruling, saying, “No one goes through life without overcoming some sort of adversity! Just a little bump in the road…” and, “I am truly glad to finally put this all behind me and get back into the trenches with my brothers…”

He made no mention of the Phillies in his missives, but Oregon State will make him available at a press conference Tuesday, so it will be interesting to see if any thoughts on the Phillies’ actions are shared.